Petrichor (/ˈpɛtrɪkɔər/) is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek πέτρα petra, meaning “stone”, and ἰχώρ īchōr, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.
The term was coined in 1964 by two Australian CSIRO researchers, Isabel Joy Bear and Richard G. Thomas, for an article in the journal Nature. In the article, the authors describe how the smell derives from an oil exuded by certain plants during dry periods, whereupon it is absorbed by clay-based soils and rocks. During rain, the oil is released into the air along with another compound, geosmin, a metabolic by-product of certain actinobacteria, which is emitted by wet soil, producing the distinctive scent; ozone may also be present if there is lightning…
Yesterday the smell was heavy but the raindrops few. Today the chance of even a sprinkle is scarce. Yesterday’s smell wafted me back to my childhood and gave me a sense of excitement. Today I feel stagnant. I want the taste of petrichor on my tongue and in my nose.
I want the heat of Summer but not Summer itself to end. I want.
~~dru~~
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